Practicing energy efficiency

Ways to conserve energy and save money at home

BY JAMIE SHELL

Between the chilly mountain winters and the heat of summer, area homeowners are always seeking to save money when it comes to their monthly energy bill. Blue Ridge Energy, which serves residents of Alleghany, Ashe, Avery Burke, Caldwell, Catawba and Watauga counties, offers a number of ideas and steps that residents can take to help lower costs of heating and cooling their homes.

First, home residents can make small changes in everyday life to conserve energy and save a few bucks. BRE offers several suggestions, including:

• Wash clothes in cold water when possible and save approximately $63 per year.

• Take advantage of the sunny days of winter by opening your drapes during the day and closing them at night to naturally heat the home. In the summer months, overworking a heat pump or air conditioning unit can be prevented by keeping drapes closed during the day to allow less sunlight and heat in.

• Install a programmable thermostat to save up to 10% on cooling and heating costs.

• In the bathroom, BRE suggests taking short showers rather than full tub baths. A normal tub bath will use up to twice as much hot water. You’ll save on total water consumption as well.

• Rather than using the conventional oven, the microwave oven reduces energy consumption and cooks food in about one fourth the time. Additionally, if the kitchen oven is used for cooking, it is recommended to bake several dishes that can be cooked at equal temperatures together in the oven.

• Pool pumps can use significant amounts of electricity. If pumps operate by a time clock, check to make sure it is operating properly.

• Well pumps average around 50 kWh per month. However, a faulty check valve, pressure switch, or leaks in lines can quickly double the electrical usage, so it is suggested to check the equipment on a regular basis.

• Change to new and improved light bulbs. Reduce energy use from about a third to as much as 80% with today’s increasing number of energy-efficient halogen incandescents, CFLs and LEDs.

• Clean or change filters regularly. A dirty furnace and push cool air down. In the winter, switch to clockwise to push the warmer air near the ceiling down along the walls into the main area of the room. Also, turn the ceiling fan off when you leave a room to save energy; you can only feel the effect when you’re in the room. or A/C filter will slow down airflow and make the system work harder to keep you warm or cool.

• Schedule service for your heating system. Find out what maintenance is required to keep your heating system operating efficiently.

• Seal air leaks and properly insulate to save up to 20% on heating and cooling bills, while also increasing home comfort. Additionally, the Smart Energy Consumer Collaborative shares no- and low-cost solutions to save money while also staying preferably warm or cool.

• Take advantage of air circulation from ceiling fans. Circulating the air in a room can make a major difference in comfort while limiting energy use. In the summer, use the switch on your fan to rotate the blades counterclockwise

• Stop the draft with weather-stripping and caulking. A drafty home can cause your heating and cooling costs to skyrocket, but fortunately, there’s a lot you can do to improve the situation. Weather-stripping and caulk can be purchased at any home improvement store for a quick, inexpensive weekend project. Use weatherstripping on any movable part of your home (windows, doors, etc.) and caulk for filling cracks and gaps. According to the Department of Energy, air sealing a drafty home can save you 20% or more on heating and cooling!

• Check with your power company for a free Energy Saving Kit. Power companies have many reasons for supporting their customers’ energy efficiency efforts, so if you’re trying to reduce your overall energy use, a good starting place is just checking with your power company. Many utilities offer free Energy Saving Kits to get their customers started down the path of saving energy. These can include free LED light bulbs, advanced power strips and other energy-saving measures. Your utility may also have other free programs or advice for helping you save.

• Make better energy-related buying decisions. When you need to replace an appliance around your home, like a washing machine, water heater or TV, avoid making an energy-inefficient purchase. By using an online tool to compare products, you can find the most energy-efficient appliance for your needs. Even if it costs a little more upfront, you’ll likely save quite a bit over the appliance’s lifetime. You can also look for the ENERGY STAR® label, a government-backed symbol that lets you know a product is more energy efficient than others you might choose.

• Turn off your lights and unplug unused appliances. The old adage “Turn off the lights when you leave a room” is great advice for being more energy efficient, but did you know that appliances like coffee makers and gaming consoles can also be major sources of wasted energy? Many appliances, like your cable box or TV, still draw some power while turned off or in standby mode. Some sources estimate that these “energy vampires” account for 10 to 20% of a home’s total energy use! Consider adding appliances and devices to a power strip to conveniently turn them on and off, and you should start seeing a decrease in your bill.

For more information on home energy conservation, click to www.blueridgeenergy.com/residential/energy-saving-tips.